Pinki case: Bengal government pleads ignorance

Updated: Friday, July 6, 2012, 16:43 [IST]

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Kolkata, Jul 6: The West Bengal government today pleaded ignorance about the complaint made by Asiad gold medalist Pinki Pramanik of atrocities inflicted on her in custody and demand for justice, as the Opposition's move to raise the issue in the Assembly was rejected on the ground of it being sub-judice.

"I have not received anything from Pinki Pramanik's family, nor from any sports organisation. Nobody has talked to me or written to me saying that what is going on is illegal", State Sports Minister Madan Mitra said when asked about alleged atrocities being perpetrated on Pramanik in custody.

However, the minister said he was keeping a close watch on it.

On the demand for keeping the athlete in a separate cell, the minister said that whether Pinki was supposed to be kept in a women's ward or not had to be decided by the police.

Leader of the Opposition Suryakanta Mishra said in the Assembly lobby that their move to raise the issue was rejected on the ground of it being sub-judice.

"Definitely there has been a violation of human rights. Though the Chief Minister is used to describe everything as manufactured, it was definitely violation of human rights in the case of Pinki," he alleged.

The opposition leader said the Women's Commission had already alleged that inhuman treatment had been meted out to Pinki in custody.

The State Human Rights Commission had directed the home, health and police departments on Jul 4 to probe the alleged "inhuman torture" on Pinki Pramanik in police and jail custody and submit a report within two weeks.

"One complaint has been submitted alleging inhuman torture both in jail and police custody to Pinki Pramanik," WBHRC chairman Justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly, members Justice NC Sil and SN Roy said in a letter to the three departments.

Saying that the Commission was seriously concerned, the WBHRC observed, "Prima facie, it's a case of human rights violation."